Hands-On

Learning
Week 8 P
Preschool

Independent
Study Packet

Educational Activities
to Create, Problem Solve,
Move, and Have Fun
 Table of Contents
This Activity Packet is a collection of open-ended multiple days. You may also want to review the
learning challenges that encourage your child to packet together and make a week long plan using
create, build, design, and move. For these the planner included, or your own.
activities, you will need materials like paper, tape,
markers, and scissors. You will also need other Brain Breaks can be used throughout the week to
materials, but feel free to substitute with what is support your child in moving their body when they
around your home. need to take a break from focusing on academic
work. The STEM Design Challenge: Plan, Reflect,
We recommend allowing your child to choose 2-3 Revise sheet can be used to help your child dig
activities per day. Each packet contains a selection deeper into the open-ended learning challenges.
of “choice boards,” and these can be used over

Weekly Planner Page 3

Brain Breaks Pages 4 - 5

STEM Design Challenge: Plan, Reflect, Revise Pages 6 - 8

Whimsical Activity Choice Board Page 9

Dance Party Choice Board Page 10

Hop in Order Page 11

Animal Movement Pages 12 - 14

Chalk Walk Choice Board Page 15

Design Your Own Planet Pages 16 - 17

Design Challenge: Creating a Cup Tower Pages 18 - 19

Mix Monochromatic Colors Pages 20 - 21

Outer Space Painting Page 22

Write Secret Messages Page 23

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Brain Breaks
What are brain breaks? Young learners often struggle to stay focused for
long periods of time. Brain breaks are short periods of time when we take a
step away from the routine work we are doing. They are quick and effective
ways to energize and refresh our thinking.

Research indicates that brain breaks improve concentration and relieve

stress. They increase productivity and provide children with opportunities to
develop their social skills and creativity through kinesthetic activities. They
also boost brain function! Use these short brain breaks to help refocus before
getting back to work.

1. Dance Party: Put on some fun music and dance!

2. Keep It Up: Get a beach ball and keep it from hitting the ground. Add an
additional ball to make it even more fun!

3. Jump Counting: Have your child count while jumping with each count.
Challenge them by counting by twos, fives, or tens!

4. “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes”: Use a movement song like this one to
get your child moving. For added fun, see how fast you can go! This is a
great one for young learners.

5. Freeze Dance: Similar to the Dance Party brain break, this one incorporates
listening skills. When the music stops, your child must freeze and hold
their position until the music begins again.

6. Physical Challenges: Engage your child in the classic challenge of rubbing

their belly, and patting their head. Another version to try is to grab your
nose with your left hand, and grab your left ear with your right hand.

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Brain Breaks
7. Race in Place: Have your child stand up and run in place. On your signal,
your child will get back to work.

8. Simon Says: Play this oldie but goodie to see how well your child can
follow specific directions...but only if Simon Says!

9. Rock, Paper, Scissors: Teach your child to play this fun, quick game and
see who wins! Best out of three.

For another approach to brain breaks, try these:

• Drawing or coloring

• Mental math: Give a sequence of instructions for learners to follow

while doing math in their head.

• Invisible pictures: Have your child draw an invisible picture in the

air and try to guess what it is.

• Story starters: Begin a story for one minute and let your child finish
the story on their own.

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STEM Design Challenge: Plan, Reflect, Revise

Part 1: Plan
Directions: Create a plan for your STEM design challenge by drawing pictures or writing
words in the space provided.

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STEM Design Challenge: Plan, Reflect, Revise

Part 2: Reflect
Directions: Reflect on your STEM design challenge by drawing pictures or writing words
in the space provided. Think about the following questions:
• What worked?
• What did you change?
• What did you learn?
• What are you still wondering?

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STEM Design Challenge: Plan, Reflect, Revise

Part 3: Revise
Directions: Draw a picture and/or write words to show how you would change your
design based on what you learned!

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Dance Party Choice Board

Directions: Choose a song and use one of the following to get your body moving!

Join the ballet: Dress up in Robot dance: Turn into a mechanical robot
your fanciest clothes and and see who can do
become a ballerina on the most realistic
the stage. robot moves!

Spotlight dance: Grab a Dance like a superhero: What kind of

flashlight and take turns superpowers do you have?
dancing in the spotlight. Incorporate your
superpower into
your dancing.

Jump to the beat: Put on some upbeat music Scarf or ribbon dance: Grab some scarves,
and see who can do the ribbons, or long pieces of
most jumping jacks (or fabric and dance to
jumps) for the the music using your
duration of materials as a prop.
the song. The
winner chooses
the next move!

Animal dance: Turn on some lively Slow motion dance: Dance as slowly as you
instrumental music and can while still moving
turn into your favorite your body for the
animal on the entire song.
dance floor!

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Hop in Order
Physical activity comes in many shapes and forms, and often in the entertaining form of
games! Physical activity strengthens muscles, bones, and joints, while also supporting mental health,
sleep, and other aspects of life. Here is a fun at-home physical activity that encourages movement while
also working on literacy or math skills! In this activity geared towards children from preschool through
second grade, children will hop in order of game cards of your own making—be it alphabetical order,
numerical order, sentence order, skip-counting, story sequence, and more. The variations are endless,
and children will enjoy the combination of movement and learning!

What You Need:

• Index cards or blank paper cut down to card size
• Markers

What You Do:

1. Get out 5–10 index cards (or small pieces of paper), and write either letters of the alphabet
(lowercase or uppercase), numbers (e.g., between 0-20, 100-150, etc.), or sight words on each card.
2. Choose a spot—either inside or outside—where there is enough space to move around without
knocking anything over.
3. Place the cards on the ground in order (such as alphabetical or numerical) and far enough apart to
encourage mid-size jumps.
4. Invite your child to start at the beginning and hop to the end in the given order or sequence, reading
each card aloud. For older kids, you can give them math problems for them to solve (e.g., have them
hop to the sum of 5 + 5) or practice reading skills by laying out words that create complete sentences.

Get creative and use different areas around your home and incorporate different movements for
subsequent rounds (e.g., tiny hops, jumping on one foot, walking backward). Invite your child to take
part in the planning for siblings or other family members, and consider playing as a family!

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Animal Movement
Get active at home by pretending to be different animals with this animal movement activity
that the whole family can enjoy together. Staying inside or close to home doesn't mean you can't get
your body moving in new and exciting ways! Regular physical activity will increase muscle tone,
strengthen bones, and support mental health. As you take turns leading others in different animal
movements, consider adding your own additions to the game, or moving throughout different rooms
or into the yard! Designed for children from preschool through first grade, this fun and engaging
activity is a great way to get moving, be silly, and practice gross motor skills.

What You Need:

• Animal Picture Cards worksheet

What You Do:

1. Cut out the animal cards and place them in a stack face down.
2. Ask your child if they want to imitate the movement and sound of each animal or just the movement.
3. Decide who will go first, then have that person choose a card from the stack of cards. The player
choosing the card will model how to act out the movement of the animal, then all players will copy
the movement.
4. Continue to play until all the cards have been used up.
5. Extend the game by creating your own cards to add to the stack. Challenge your child to write (or
have younger children dictate) details about the movement or animal (e.g., a snake slithers).

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Animal Picture Cards

Directions: Color the pictures. Then cut out the cards and use them to play a game!

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Animal Picture Cards

Directions: Color the pictures. Then cut out the cards and use them to play a game!

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Chalk Walk Choice Board

Directions: Take a walk around the neighborhood. Choose one of these encouraging drawing options
and draw it on the sidewalk in your neighborhood. Color in the affirmations on the choice board when
you finish drawing them.

Bee Kind We be-leaf in you!

Donut give up! You snailed it.

Daily Encourage-Mint We’re rooting for you!

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Design Your Own Planet

Imagination is a spark needed to make the best inventions or art. In this activity, Design Your
Own Planet, learners will imagine a new planet in the solar system. What will it look like? What are the
inhabitants like? Children can let their imaginations run wild and include as much scientific thinking as
they desire with this design challenge. While you are leading your child through the activity, allow them
to work independently. Geared toward children from preschool through second grade, this fun activity
will intertwine arts with science, and get your child’s creative juices flowing.

What You Need:

• Internet access
• Craft materials around the house. Some ideas are:
- Paper - Paint
- Tape - Paintbrushes
- Glue - Construction paper
- Balloons

What You Do:

1. Do a search online for pictures of Earth from outer space and show them to your child. Talk to your
child about what Earth looks like, and discuss different environments, such as rainforest or deserts.
2. Now show them online photos of other planets and explain that there are other planets in our solar
system. Ask your learner, “Can you design and make your own planet?”
3. Encourage your child to make a plan. Ask your learner, “What will your planet look like? What animals
will live on the planet? What is the name of your planet? What materials do you need to make your
vision come true?”
4. Give your child some craft materials and have them create their design. Allow them to work
independently, but be available with ideas and suggestions if they ask for help. As your child creates
their planet, ask them, “Is this what you imagined? What other materials do you need for your planet?”
5. Tell your little designer to play with their new planet. Have them imagine landing on their planet in a
spaceship. What would they do? What would they see?
6. After imagining their journey through their planet, ask your child what ways they can adjust their
design. For example, ask questions like, “What do you want to change about your planet? What do
you wish your planet had?”
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Design Your Own Planet

7. Have your creator make any changes they find necessary.
8. Challenge designers to share their planet. They can record a video or draw their design on paper.
They can mention what the planet looks like, what the temperature and environment is like, and
what animals live on the planet.

Amplify this challenge! If your child enjoyed this challenge, take them one step further.
Ask them one or more of these questions:

• Can you create different ecosystems or environments on your planet?

• Can you imagine other creatures living on the planet that do not exist on Earth? Do they breathe?
What do they do?

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Design Challenge: Creating a Cup Tower

In this activity, your child will be challenged to make a tower using only one material: paper
cups! The purpose of this challenge is to teach your child design thinking strategies so that they can
maximize their tower's height.

What You Need:

• Paper cups
• Ruler, tape measure, or yardstick
• Pen and paper for taking notese

What You Do:

1. First, fully explain the prompt of this challenge to your child. Explain that their task is to create a cup
tower and emphasize the purpose of the tower: to be as tall as possible. Tell your child that in order
to achieve this, they will need to make at least a couple designs and compare their heights.
2. After your child understands the prompt, ask them to begin brainstorming different ways they can
create their tower. Have them write or draw their ideas on a piece of paper (or you can draw their
ideas while they explain them to you).
3. After your child has come up with a few design ideas, ask them to pick one that will work best. Be
sure to ask them why they think this design is best and reiterate the purpose of the tower (height).
• This is an important step of the design thinking process because it teaches your child to prioritize
the purpose of their prototype (design) over their personal preferences. This will also prevent your
child from getting too emotionally invested in one design.
4. Once your child has identified the prototype they think will be the tallest, give them the paper cups
and allow them to build. We suggest allowing your child to work independently through any
challenges, but be sure to supervise and help out wherever you see fit.
5. After your child has finished building, it's time to test their prototype. Measure the tower's height
and have your child record the height on a piece of paper.
6. Since the purpose of this challenge is to build the tallest tower possible, your child will need to create
at least one more prototype and compare its height with the first tower. Ask your child some of the
following questions so that they can reflect on their first design:
a. What worked well in building this tower?
b. What didn't work well?
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Design Challenge: Creating a Cup Tower

c. What could you change about this tower to make it taller?
7. After you and your child have come up with some modifications, explain to your child that they can
now use their ideas to make a new, taller tower.
8. Once again, ask your child to brainstorm different designs that will hopefully create a taller tower
than their first one. Then, ask them to pick the one they think will be best.
9. Next, allow your child to build their design. Once again, allow them to work independently as much
as possible.
10. After your child has finished building, it's time to test their new prototype. Again, measure and
record the height of their tower and compare it to the first one.
a. If your child's second tower is taller, ask them some of the following questions: What worked well
in your second design? What didn't work well? What specific adjustment to your first design made
the second tower taller? What could you change about the second design to make it even taller?
b. If your child's second tower is shorter than their first, ask them some of the following questions:
What worked well in your second design? What didn't work well? Why do you think your second
tower was shorter than the first? What could you change about this design to make it taller?
11. You and your child can continue repeating this process and attempting to create a taller tower for
as long as you'd like. Be sure to cover each step of the design thinking process since repetition will
reinforce these core ideas!

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Mix Monochromatic Colors!

This is a great activity to give your child a hands-on lesson all about secondary colors, which
are created when two primary colors are mixed together. After learning or reviewing some color-based
vocabulary, young artists will choose a secondary color to explore and create a monochromatic color
chart of all the many shades of their chosen color. Mixing their own palette of colors and making each
one a different tint or shade is a bit like a puzzle—it's a fun challenge that will help children understand
how many colors they can get from just a few tubes of paint.

What You Need:

• White watercolor paper cut into a square • White tempera paint
• Ruler • Paint brushes
• Pencil • Water cup
• Primary color tempera paint (red, yellow, blue) • Mixing palette
• Black tempera paint • Rags

What You Do:

1. Discuss with your child the difference between tint and shade, and define the word
monochromatic.
• A tint is when white is added to a color.
• A shade is when black is added to a color.
• Monochromatic refers to all the hues (tints and shades) of one color.
2. Have your child use a pencil and ruler to grid the white paper into at least 20 squares.
3. Have them decide on a secondary color to work with (green, orange, or purple), and choose the
correct primary colors to make their secondary color. Here is where your learner can start
experimenting!
• blue + yellow = green
• yellow + red = orange
• blue + red = purple
4. Have your child squeeze out their chosen primary colors onto a mixing palette, and also squeeze out
black and white paint in separate areas on the same palette.

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Mix Monochromatic Colors!

5. Encourage your artist to mix small amounts of paint together to alter the tint and hue of the
color. They can also alter the amounts of the colors being mixed together. For example, if they're
using green, use a lot of yellow and a tiny bit of blue for light, grassy green, or use more blue and less
yellow for a rich, dark green. The paintbrush will have to be rinsed out after each new color is mixed
to avoid repeating colors.
6. Add in white to different hues of your color, tinting it to lighter values.
7. Add in black to different hues of your color, shading it to darker values.
8. Have your child paint each square on their grid with a different version of the color until the entire
grid is filled in.
9. Allow to dry.
10. Hang on to this color chart and put in into a portfolio or sketch book as a handy reference.

Tip: With any additional time or as another activity, use the painted grid as a reference to create a
monochromatic still life. Simply set up a plant with a couple of household objects (such as cups,
pottery, etc.), and create a painting using only colors found on the color chart.

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Outer Space Painting

This outer space art project is out of this world! It's filled with colorful planets, rockets,
astronauts, satellites, aliens, and anything else your young explorer can imagine. This project is a
fantastic way to follow up a space-themed story or movie, or a visit to a science museum or planetarium
(in person or online). It's also a great way to extend knowledge of our solar system while encouraging
your child's imagination.

What You Need:

• Watercolor paper, 8.5" x 11"
• Crayons (take out the dark colors)
• Black tempera paint
• Water
• Paint palette
• Flat paint brush

What You Do:

1. Share photographs of outer space with your child. You can look up images of the solar system,
satellites, astronauts, space stations, spaceships, and galaxies. Also, take a look at artist renderings of
aliens or outer space fantasy worlds to jump start your child's imagination.
2. On white paper, have your child color their version of outer space using crayons. They should use
vivid colors and press down hard with the crayons—solid shapes without any paper showing through
will give the best results.
3. Scoop out some black paint onto a paint palette and check its consistency. If it's thick, add a little bit
of water. The paint should be similar to the consistency of hot chocolate.
4. Help your child brushing the black paint over the entire picture in even strokes going in the same
direction. If the paint is too thick, it won't be resisted by the crayon and will turn the entire picture
black. If the paint is too thin, it may go on as gray and require two coats of paint. It's best to test a
small section before covering the entire picture.
5. Allow the space exploration picture to dry.

Your child can make a whole collection of these space scenes to string up for an out-of-orbit effect!

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Write Secret Messages

Your child will feel like a secret agent when you teach them this cool art trick. Write your
learner an "invisible" message with white crayon, then watch their amazement as they paint over what
looks like a blank piece of paper and see a picture emerging. Then let your child have their own turn at
making a secret picture! This creative art project will tap into children's creativity, is a great way to
inspire games of playing "secret agent," and can be a challenging exercise in handwriting and
spatial awareness.

What You Need:

• White construction paper • Newspaper
• White wax crayons • Water soluble paint (tempera paint or watercolor paint)

What You Do:

1. Draw a simple image on the white construction paper with the white crayon and write a few
simple words.
2. Tell your child that the "blank" piece of paper is magic!
3. Lay down some newspaper in the painting area, and ask them to paint over the paper with their
favorite color. Can they see the image? What is it? Can they identify any letters?
4. To commend their excellent detective work, let your child in on the secret and ask them to create
their own "magic drawings."
5. See if your young detective can guess how the "magic" works. Explain how the waxy crayon puts a
"paint-proof" layer of wax on the paper. So when the paint is applied, the areas that have been drawn
on are blank!

Variations:
• This is a great way to exchange "secret" drawings and notes with friends who are in the know!
• Let your child make a secret birthday card for a friend. Deliver the card with instructions on how to
reveal the hidden message!
• Play an invisible alphabet game with your child! Draw a letter of the alphabet with the white crayon
on the white paper and see if your child can guess the letter you have written. Were they right? All
they have to do is paint over the letter to see! If your child can read, you can play this game
using words instead of letters.
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